Morals vs. Ethics

Current Issues - LHS

What Are Morals and Ethics?• MORALS are principles or habits

with respect to right or wrong conduct

• Morals define how things should work, according to an individuals’ ideals & principles

• ETHICS are the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc. (lawyers, doctors, cops, etc)

• Ethics define how things are, according to the rules

Morals vs. Ethics• Where do they come from?– Morals = individual (internal)– Ethics = social system

(external)• Why do we have them?– Morals = Because we believe

in something being right or wrong!

– Ethics = Because society says it is the right thing to do!• Ex – medical ethics don’t change

from hospital to hospital, but are different from a lawyer’s ethics

Morals vs. Ethics• What if we don’t follow

them?– Morals = depends; for

people with strong morals, it may cause them to feel uncomfortable, remorseful, depressed, etc.

– Ethics = we may face peer or societal disapproval, or be fired from our job or lose a license to practice a profession

Morals vs. Ethics• How flexible are they?– Morals are usually

consistent, although they could change if an individual’s belief’s change

– Ethics are dependent on others for definition; they tend to be consistent within a certain context but can vary depending upon context

Morals vs. Ethics • What is the “gray” area between

morals & ethics?– A moral person, although perhaps

bound by some sort of higher covenant (let’s say religious), may nevertheless follow a code of ethics that conflicts with their morals (ex – lawyer’s morals = murder is wrong, but their ethics require them to defend an accused murderer)

– A person strictly following an ethical system may not have any morals at all

– Likewise, one may violate their ethical principles within a given set of rules in order to maintain their moral integrity

Morals vs. Ethics

• Who determines acceptability?– Morals transcend cultural

norms – religious based, for example

– Ethics are governed by professional and legal guidelines within a particular time and place• Ex – medical ethics of the

early 20th C. are different than those of the 21st C.